Resources for families

Because childhood cancer affects the whole family and community, we fund a variety of services that enhance healing and care for children and their families.

Share Your Story

Sharing your story can be a powerful way to raise awareness for childhood cancer research.

Get Started

Big Dreams Tour

James Orrigo’s “Big Dreams” tour, funded by CCRF, provides a creative experience for kids fighting cancer in hospitals around the country. James brings his guitar, along with a portable recording studio into a child’s hospital room and helps them write a song and animate a music video that expresses the child’s own creative ideas – the sillier, the better.

C.C. Bear

Cuddly C.C. Bear (Cure Cancer Bear) is available to those who need him most. Children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases, as well as their siblings, have been comforted by our lovable donor-supported teddy bear. Request bears or learn more.

Momcology

Children’s Cancer Research Fund is proud to support Momcology, a nonprofit organization that connects and heals childhood cancer families through peer support. Momcology provides online support communities for parents and caregivers, national restorative weekend retreats, childhood cancer resources, self-care gifting campaigns and partnerships with like-minded organizations that benefit families and research. Visit Momcology to learn more and join the online support community.

Care Partners

Care Partners volunteers help make hospital stays and visits a little easier by providing support to families receiving care at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital. Learn more about the services.

Sibshops

Siblings play a unique and important role in a family facing health care needs. They may experience a variety of emotions and need support to cope and communicate. Sibshops provides activities, crafts, games and field trips for siblings to learn and have fun. Hosted at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital on the second Saturday of each month, Sibshops is free for siblings from kindergarten through 12 years of age. Please note some dates are subject to change. Learn more or sign up for the next session.

Dinner Program

Care Partners hosts a monthly dinner for patients and families at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital. Complimentary food and beverages are provided and families can enjoy a short break from their hospital rooms. The dinner program is held the second Tuesday of each month.

Beads of Courage

As part of Care Partners, we fund Beads of Courage, an innovative therapeutic art program that lets cancer patients document their journeys with cancer. Patients tell their stories by using colorful beads which represent courage and important milestones achieved during treatment. The program is designed to support and strengthen children and families coping with serious illnesses.

CaringBridge

We’re proud to partner with CaringBridge, where you can start a free personal website to share important information quickly with family and friends during a health journey. The site is easy to use and you have complete control over the privacy settings, so your site is as private or public as you want it to be. Family and friends can stay informed without overwhelming you. Plus, they can post messages, photos and videos of support straight to your site.

Go to CaringBridge.org to create a website for yourself or someone else. Many of the families we work with at Children’s Cancer Research Fund have a CaringBridge website.

 

For Families

Through the LeJeune Whole Family Wellbeing Programs, we support families fighting childhood cancer. 

At CCRF, we work to amplify the stories of families experiencing childhood cancer. We understand that childhood cancer is a whole-family diagnosis, which is why The LeJeune Whole Family Wellbeing Programs put children and their families at the forefront. We are dedicated to funding resources and experiences that help kids and families as they navigate the difficult experience of cancer treatment and survivorship. 

Your experience can create lasting change for childhood cancer research.

Cancer survivors, with their families
Share your story.

Sharing your experience of childhood cancer can raise awareness for what is needed in the world of childhood cancer research. There are many different ways to share your story, and our outreach coordinators (who are also cancer parents) can work with you to find what you’re most comfortable with.

Get Started

We provide creative opportunities for kids experiencing cancer.

James Origo and friends playing the guitar
Big Dreams

We partner with musician and artist James Orrigo to provide creative experiences for kids fighting cancer. James uses music, animation and virtual reality technology to bring kids’ imaginations to life.

Learn More
Kids playing with their C.C. Bears
C.C. Bear

Cuddly C.C. Bear (Cure Cancer Bear) is available to those who need him most. Children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases, as well as their siblings, can receive a free teddy bear. Just fill out the request form.

Request a Bear
Camp Norden, archery shooting
Camp Norden

CCRF has created Camp Norden, located in Crosslake, MN, specifically for kids who have experienced childhood cancer – kids who too often miss out on this kind of adventure. Click below to learn more and let us know you’re interested.

Learn More

Honor a child in your life who is experiencing cancer.

Create an honor page for a child who has experienced cancer

Create a personalized fundraising page in honor or in memory of your child and watch your community rally around their story.

Create an honor page
Shirts for change

Purchase a shirt to raise awareness for the need for childhood cancer research. Proceeds from each shirt support our mission to fund research and raise awareness.

View shirts

Additional resources

Below are a few resources that CCRF does not fund directly, but that childhood cancer families may find helpful.

Coalition Against Childhood Cancer (CAC2)

Children’s Cancer Research Fund is a member of this network of nonprofits, corporations and individuals supporting the childhood cancer community. CAC2 has an exhaustive list of resources on their website, divided by region. For additional help, please visit the Hope Portal database on the CAC2 website.

CaringBridge

CCRF is a proud to promote CaringBridge, where families can start a free personal website to share important information quickly and securely with family and friends during a health journey. Go to CaringBridge.org to create a website for yourself or someone else. Many of the families we work with at Children’s Cancer Research Fund have a CaringBridge website.

Momcology

Momcology, is a nonprofit that connects and helps heal childhood cancer families through peer support. Momcology provides online support communities for parents and caregivers as well as national restorative weekend retreats.